a bowl of marinara sauce with uncooked pasta shells
The Common Mistake That Ruins Marinara Sauce

NEWS

By JULIA MULLANEY
a plate of spaghetti
To make the perfect marinara sauce, don't simmer the sauce for too long. This sauce relies on fresh tomatoes, and simmering them for too long can alter their initial flavor.
a skillet of marinara sauce with a spoonful of it
To maintain the tomatoes' integrity, don't cook the sauce for more than 20 minutes, or else they break down and lose moisture, resulting in a thicker texture and different flavor.
a plate of pasta with marinara sauce and meatballs
Since marinara's flavor comes from a bright, acidic tomato taste and is supposed to be thinner, simmering the sauce for hours will change it into something completely different.